Ambrosiana

Portrait of Federico Borromeo, detail, from
Miscellanea riguardante la Biblioteca Ambrosiana e i suoi dottori e prefetti
Z351 sup, f. 413v

The historical and literary sources of the Betrothed

From October 12, 2023, the exhibition “The historical and literary sources of the Betrothed will be on display in the windows of rooms 2 and 3 of the Pinacoteca.

There is no need to remember how much the figure of Cardinal Federico Borromeo and his great Milanese institution had an impact on the construction of the Betrothed.
Precisely for this reason the Ambrosiana commemorates the 150th anniversary of Alessandro Manzoni’s death with this selected exhibition of rare volumes which, by explicit admission of the Author, provided historical material for the ‘truthful’ creation of the Novel.
For the most part, these are texts that are not easy to find – some are even the only surviving examples – which provided Manzoni with the information for the plot of his story.
Thus, also on this theme, the Ambrosiana Library manages to draw, from its inexhaustible book heritage, precious relics that can offer new sources of studies and interpretations on the figure of the most famous novelist of Italian literature.

<p><em>Portrait of Federico Borromeo</em>, from<br />
Miscellanea riguardante la Biblioteca Ambrosiana e i suoi dottori e prefetti<br />
Z351 sup, f. 413v</p>

Portrait of Federico Borromeo, from
Miscellanea riguardante la Biblioteca Ambrosiana e i suoi dottori e prefetti
Z351 sup, f. 413v

WHAT’S ON

THE MIDDLE AGES IN MANUSCRIPT BOOKS

Pinacoteca

THE MIDDLE AGES IN MANUSCRIPT BOOKS

An itinerary through the treasures of the Biblioteca Ambrosiana curated by Federico Gallo and Stefano Martinelli Tempesta | Pinacoteca, rooms 2 and 3

25/04/2024-23/07/2024
Exhibition
MOLESKINE DETOUR

Pinacoteca

MOLESKINE DETOUR

From April 15, on the occasion of Design Week, the rooms of the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana will host 'Moleskine Detour', an international exhibition promoted by Moleskine and the Moleskine Foundation.

15/04/2024-14/05/2024
Exhibition
Restoration works for the recovery of the historic balconies of the Biblioteca Ambrosiana

Ambrosiana

Restoration works for the recovery of the historic balconies of the Biblioteca Ambrosiana

Recovery of the functionality of the balconies of the Sala Federiciana, Borromeo and della Rosa through the installation of lifelines

01/03/2024
NEWS
Notice for the users of the Reading Room

Biblioteca

GUIDED TOURS IN ENGLISH

Ambrosiana

GUIDED TOURS IN ENGLISH

Every Saturday at 15.30 a guided tour of the masterpieces of the Pinacoteca, together with professional guides of our official partner AdArtem

01/04/2023-30/06/2024

ONLINE COLLECTION

(158 online artworks)

Diana the Huntress, Joachim Friess (XVI-XVII secolo)
The Presentation of Christ in the Temple, Pietro Antonio Magatti (1691-1767)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 719 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Original Sin, Jan II Brueghel il Giovane (1601-1678)
Mary Magdalene Penitent, Guido Reni (1575-1642)
Christ on the Way to Calvary, Giovanni Busi detto Cariani (1480-1547)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus) f. 851 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Latin astrolabe, Anonymous
The Holy Family with Sain John, Tobias and the Archangel Raphael, Bonifacio Veronese (1487-1553)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 4 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Locked out of school, Emilio Longoni (1859-1932)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 145 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Libro d’Ore Borromeo, Cristoforo de Predis (1440-1486)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 72 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
The Last Supper, Andrea Bianchi detto il Vespino (attivo 1612-1640)
The Wedding of Peleus and Thetis, Ambito di Francesco Albani (1578-1660)
Portrait of Napoleon King of Italy, Andrea Appiani (1754-1817)
Sacra Conversazione, Ambrogio da Fossano detto il Bergognone (1453-1523)
Clock with astrolabe, Sconosciuto
Portrait of a Young Man, Vittore Ghislandi detto Frà Galgario (1655-1743)
De divina proportione, Luca Pacioli (1445 circa – 1517)
Mary Magdalene, Tiziano Vecellio (1480-1576)
Allegory of Fire, Jan Brueghel il Vecchio “Dei Velluti” (1568-1625)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 21 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 909 verso, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 844 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 812 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Dantesque window, Giuseppe Bertini (1825-1898)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 29 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Still Life with Musical Instruments, Evaristo Baschenis (1617-1677)
Self Portrait, Antonio Canova (1757-1822)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 455 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
The Kiss, Francesco Hayez (1791-1882)
Apse of San Satiro and View of the Duomo, Giovanni Migliara (1785-1837)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 139 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Jael and Sisera, Giuseppe Vermiglio (1585-1635)
Basket of fruit, Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571-1610)
Display case with the hair of Lucrezia Borgia, Alfredo Ravasco
The Holy Family, Carlo Francesco Nuvolone (1609-1661)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 663 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
The Presentation of Christ in the Temple, Giandomenico Tiepolo (1727-1804)
Flowers and Roses, Gaetano Previati (1852-1920)
Crib, Federico Barocci o Baroccio detto il Fiori (1535-1612) (replica di)
Portrait of Emilia Morosini Zeltner, Francesco Hayez (1791-1882)
Christ Crowned with Thorns, Bernardino Luini (1480-1532)
A Soul in Purgatory, Anonimo lombardo (XVII secolo)
The Madonna and Child with Saint John the Evangelist and Saint John the Baptist, Marco d’Oggiono (1470-1525)
The Rest on the Flight into Egypt, Jacopo da Ponte detto il Bassano (1510-1592)
The Adoration of the Magi, Andrea Schiavone (1510-1563)
Portrait of a Young Girl with a Dove, Natale Schiavoni (1777-1858)
Adoration of the Magi, Tiziano Vecellio (1480-1576)
The Madonna Nursing the Child by the Fountain, Bernaert van Orley (1488-1541)
The Placing of Christ in the Sepulchre, Tiziano Vecellio (1480-1576)
The Madonna of the Pavilion, Sandro Botticelli (Alessandro di Mariano Filipepi detto) (1444 o 1445-1510)
Portrait of Paolo Morigia, Fede Galizia (1578-1630)
Portrait of a Young Man, Giorgione (Giorgio da Castelfranco copia da) (1478 circa-1510)
Daggers with sheath (eared sfondagiaco dagger), Milanese Gunsmiths
Laocoon (copy of the Vatican original), Leone Leoni
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 1058 verso, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
The Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian, Antonio Badile (1518-1560)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 116 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Winter Landscape with Skaters, Hendrick Avercamp (1585-1634)
Saint Michael the Archangel, Giulio Cesare Procaccini (1574-1625)
Portrait of a Musician, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
The Magdalen and the Angel, Giulio Cesare Procaccini (1574-1625)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 858 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Mercury and Argus, Anonimo genovese (XVII secolo)
Cup with Turbo marmoratus shell, Christoph Lencker (1556 circa-1613)
Codice Atlantico (Codex Atlanticus), f. 104 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Man in Armour, Tiziano Vecellio (1480-1576)
The Assumption of the Virgin, Giovanni Agostino da Lodi (1467-1524 circa)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 49 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 1006 verso, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
The Ambrosian Virgil of Francesco Petrarca, NA
The Adoration, Bartolomeo Suardi detto il Bramantino (1465-1530)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 71 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Head of Christ the Redeemer, Gian Giacomo Caprotti detto Salai (1480-1524)
Still Life with Fruit, Isaac Soreau (1604-1638)
Washerwomen at the Canal, Emilio Gola (1851-1923)
Flowers in a Vase, Jan Brueghel il Vecchio “Dei Velluti” (1568-1625)
The Damned Soul, Anonimo lombardo (XVII secolo)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 3 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
The Madonna Enthroned with Saint Ambrose and Saint Michael, Bartolomeo Suardi detto il Bramantino (1465-1530)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 149 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 12 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Seascape, Paul Bril (1554-1626)
Portrait of Peter Leopold of Habsburg-Lorraine (later Leopold II), Anton Raphael Mengs (1728-1779)
Portrait of Giovanni Battista Morosini, Francesco Hayez (1791-1882)
Portrait of Alessandro Negroni Prati Morosini, Francesco Hayez (1791-1882)
View of the Interior of the Duomo, Giovanni Migliara (1785-1837)
Susanna at her Bath, Carlo Francesco Nuvolone (1609-1661)
The Holy Family with Saints Anne and John, Bernardino Luini (1480-1532)
Burse, Artista dell’Italia centrale
Lesenes and trophies, Agostino Busti detto il Bambaia (1483-1548)
Saint John the Baptist, Gian Giacomo Caprotti
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 26 verso, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Naturalis Historia, Plinio il Vecchio (23-79 dC)
The Martyrdom of Saint Peter of Verona, Alessandro Bonvicino detto Moretto (1490-1554)
Figured casket, Scultore lombardo
Allegory of Water, Jan Brueghel il Vecchio “Dei Velluti” (1568-1625)
Portico in Ruins, Giovanni Migliara (1785-1837)
Portrait of Bernardino da Lesmo, Bartolomeo Veneto (1502-1530)
The Madonna and Child with a Worshipper, Bernardino Betti detto il Pinturicchio (1454-1513)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus) f. 710 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
The Arco della Pace in Milan, Giovanni Migliara (1785-1837)
The Adoration with Saint Roch, Gian Pietro Rizzoli detto Giampietrino (1508-1549)
Portrait of Saint Charles Borromeo, Giovanni Ambrogio Figino (1548-1608)
Portrait of a Lady, Giovanni Ambrogio De Predis (1455-1508)
The Madonna and Child with Saint Peter and Saint Jerome, Cesare Magni (1511-1534)
Still Life with Fruit, Isaac Soreau (1604-1638)
Napoleon Bonaparte’s gloves, NA
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 860 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 873 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
The Blessed Soul, Anonimo lombardo (XVII secolo)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 845 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Portrait of a Pilgrim, Monogrammista HL (XVI secolo)
Maternity, Mosè Bianchi (1840-1904)
The Dormition of the Virgin, Anonimo ferrarese (XV secolo)
Portrait of Manfredo Settala, Daniele Crespi (1600-1630) attribuito a
llias picta, NA
Octagonal casket, Bottega degli Embriachi (XIV-XV secolo)
The Virgin of the Rocks, Andrea Bianchi detto il Vespino (attivo 1612-1640)
The Triumph of David, Lucas Hugenszoon detto Luca di Leida (1494-1533)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 5 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
The Annunciation, Gerolamo Mazzola Bedoli (1500-1569)
The infant Jesus with a Lamb, Bernardino Luini (1480-1532)
Portrait of a Gentleman (Michel de l’Hospital), Giovan Battista Moroni (1520-1578)
The Adoration of the Magi, Pier Francesco Mazzucchelli also known as Morazzone (1571-1626)
Portrait of Giuseppina Negroni Prati Morosini, Francesco Hayez (1791-1882)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus) f. 199 verso, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, Jan II Brueghel il Giovane (1601-1678)
Orrery, Sconosciuto
The Holy Family with Saint John the Baptist, Ubertini Francesco detto Bachiacca (1494-1557)
Landscape with Saint John the Baptist, Paul Bril (1554-1626)
The School of Athens, Raffaello Sanzio (1483-1520)
Nautilus shell, Sconosciuto
Allegorical Female Figure, Giovanni Serodine (1600-1631)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 117 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Vase of Flowers with Jewel, Coins and Shells, Jan Brueghel il Vecchio “Dei Velluti” (1568-1625)
Ceremonial saddle and stirrups. Detail of the wooden horse of Troy, Arte armaiola milanese
Noctes Atticae, Aulo Gellio
Mouse with Roses, Jan Brueghel il Vecchio “Dei Velluti” (1568-1625)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 272 verso, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Pietà (copy from Michelangelo), Leone Leoni
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 33 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 1069 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Male portrait, Hans Muelich (1516-1573)
Judith and Holofernes, Giuseppe Vermiglio (1585-1635)
Kids and Lambs, Francesco Londonio (1723-1783)
Moses and the Brazen Serpent, Cesare Ligari (1716-1770)
Horse’s head (Copy from the equestrian monument to Marcus Aurelius on the Capitol in Rome), NA
Christ Resurrected, Marco Basaiti (1470-1530)
Plato, Giovanni Antonio Piatti (1447-1480)
The Adoration of the Magi, Maestro del Santo Sangue (XVI secolo)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 307 verso, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Self Portrait, Bertel Thorvaldsen (1770-1844)
Armillary sphere, NA
Codice Atlantico (Codex Atlanticus), f. 1 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)